South Australian allrounder Dan Christian claimed two key wickets on Wednesday to give the home side a slight edge over Queensland after the second day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

The Bulls reached 3-135 at stumps in reply to SA’s first innings of 9(dec)-402.

Christian dismissed Test hopeful Usman Khawaja for 19 and Peter Forrest for four to leave Queensland struggling at 3-55.

Khawaja was caught at first slip by Michael Klinger when playing forward defensively.

And Forrest also soon departed, getting a fine edge to wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman from a forward prod outside off stump.

But an unbroken 80-run partnership between Wade Townsend (50 not out) and Joe Burns (50 not out) steadied Queensland.

Earlier, the Redbacks declared about 45 minutes after lunch following Callum Ferguson’s highest first-class score.

Ferguson made 164, surpassing his previous best of 132, in an innings which underpinned SA’s healthy total.

The stylish right-hander combined with wicketkeeper-batsman Ludeman in a 162-run stand for SA’s sixth wicket.

Ludeman made 78, while Bulls paceman Ben Cutting took three wickets.

Queensland skipper James Hopes, spinner Nathan Hauritz and quick Luke Feldman each claimed two victims.